Posted by Eric Frasco on April 26, 2000 at 15:53:25:
In Reply to: No experience divers>? posted by Sarah on April 26, 2000 at 14:03:23:
Sarah:
Using scuba equipment with no experience can get you very dead. Sorry to say it, but it is just too big a liability and Dive Shops won't rent unless you have a certification card. And diving in California without proper experience is not suggested AT ALL.
You can, however, do one of several available "experience" programs which instructors or assistants will take you into the pool to give you an opportunity to experience scuba equipment. But the "experience" does not qualify you to rent equipment.
In tropical areas, where the water is crystal clear and bath-water warm, you can get a conditional certification with a few hours of pool work, but you can only dive with an instructor or assistant afterwards.
Sorry, there is no cheap and easy way to get the experience you need to be able to properly handle the equipment or the environment. And if a "friend" just happens to loan you equipment, I'd check first to see if he takes out an insurance policy for you that names himself as the beneficiary.
-eric-